Artificial intelligence (AI) research methods are strongly advancing the change of social science research methods and may become a new powerful tool for higher education research.

Taking the study of academic talent mobility as the main case study, the Study of Higher Education on "One Belt, One Road" (2016): Country Report compares and analyses the advantages and disadvantages of three types of traditional research methods and AI methods, introduces the use of AI methods in higher education research, and explores new opportunities for higher education research that may be brought about by AI methods.research.

The Belt and Road Higher Education Research (2016): Country Reports concludes that AI methods greatly overcome the shortcomings of traditional research methods, more perfectly realise the combination with big data research methods, and have the ability of autonomous learning, which is conducive to promoting the discovery of new knowledge.In the future, AI methods will likely be more realised in higher education research, which will significantly improve the scientific level of higher education research.